All Bank notes including Mahatma Gandhi (New) series notes with writing or colour stains on them continue to be legal tender, provided they are decipherable. Such notes can be deposited or exchanged in any bank branch.

However, a claim in respect of bank notes which carries any extrinsic words or visible representations intended to convey or capable of conveying any message of a political or religious character or furthering the interest of any person or entity will be rejected as per Reserve Bank of India (Note Refund) Rules, 2009 [As amended by Reserve Bank of India (Note Refund) Amendment Rules, 2018].

A suspected forged note, counterfeit note or fake note is any note which does not possess the characteristics of genuine Indian currency note.

A forged note can be identified on the basis of the security features which are present in a genuine Indian currency note. These features are easily identifiable by seeing, touching and tilting the note.

Counterfeiting banknotes/using as genuine, forged or counterfeit banknotes/possession of forged or counterfeit banknote/making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting banknotes/making or using documents resembling banknotes are offences under Sections 489A to 489E of the Indian Penal Code and are punishable in the Courts of Law by fine or imprisonment ranging from seven years to life imprisonment or both, depending on the offence.

The Government of India has framed Investigation of High Quality Counterfeit Indian Currency Offences Rules, 2013 under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. The Third Schedule of the Act defines High Quality Counterfeit Indian Currency Note. Activity of production, smuggling or circulation of High Quality Counterfeit Indian Notes has been brought under the ambit of UAPA, 1967.

Mere possession of a forged note does not attract punishment. Possession of any forged or counterfeit banknotes, knowing or having reason to believe the same to be forged or counterfeit and intending to use the same as genuine or that it may be used as genuine, is punishable under Section 489C of Indian Penal Code, 1860.

The Reserve Bank of India has been organizing training sessions on the authentication of banknotes security features for people handling significant amounts of cash like banks/consumer forums/merchant associations/educational institutions/police professionals. Apart from the training sessions, information on security features of banknotes is also available on the Bank’s website.

Coins in India are presently being issued in denominations of 50 paise, one rupee, two rupees, five rupees, ten rupees and twenty rupees. Coins up to 50 paise are called 'small coins' and coins of Rupee one and above are called 'Rupee Coins'. Coins can be issued up to the denomination of ₹1000 under The Coinage Act, 2011.

Twenty five (25) paise coins have been withdrawn from circulation with effect from June 30, 2011 and are, therefore, no more legal tender. Coins of denominations below 25 paise were withdrawn from circulation much earlier. All other denominations of coins of various size, theme and design minted by Government of India under The Coinage Act, 2011 and issued by RBI for circulation from time to time, continue to remain legal tender.

RBI has not prescribed any limit for coin deposits by customers with banks. Banks are free to accept any amount of coins from their customers.

The One Rupee notes issued under the Currency Ordinance, 1940 are legal tender and included in the expression Rupee coin for all the purposes of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Since the rupee coins issued by Government constitute the liabilities of the Government, one rupee Note is also liability of the Government of India.

Yes. Different designs of ₹10 coins are currently in circulation. All coins of ₹10 denomination minted from time to time by the Government of India (with/without the Rupee symbol) are legal tender. For more details kindly see our Press Release issued in this regard which is available at the following link www.rbi.org.in>>Issuer of currency>>Press Release>>January 17, 2018. /en/web/rbi/-/press-releases/rbi-reiterates-legal-tender-status-of-%E2%82%B9-10-coins-of-different-designs-42887

The Government of India is responsible for the designing and minting of coins in various denominations.

The Government of India decides on the quantity of coins to be minted on the basis of indent received from the Reserve Bank on yearly basis.

The Reserve Bank has instructed the banks to accept coins for transactions and exchange at all their branches. The public can continue to accept these coins as legal tender in all their transactions without any hesitation. A press release in this regard can be accessed at the following link: /en/web/rbi/-/press-releases/public-can-continue-to-accept-all-the-coins-as-legal-tender-rbi-47414

For commemorative coins, you may refer to the website of SPMCIL at http://www.spmcil.com or contact SPMCIL.

In case of grievance against a specific bank, a complaint may be lodged with the bank branch concerned. If not satisfied with their reply, a complaint may be lodged with Nodal Officers/Principal Nodal Officers at Controlling Office/Head Office of the bank branch, appointed under the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006, for redressal of complaints. If the complaint is not redressed within one month, a complaint can be made to Banking Ombudsman, under the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006. Non-acceptance, without sufficient cause, of coins tendered and charging of commission in respect thereof is a valid ground for lodging complaints against a bank under the Banking Ombudsman Scheme 2006.The details of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme are available on RBI's website www.rbi.org.in. The name and contact details of the Nodal Officers of the banks are available in their respective official website.

For the complaints not covered under Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006, the complainants may approach to Consumer Education and Protection Cell, Reserve Bank of India (at cms.rbi.org.in) of respective region with their grievance about deficiency in customer service by RBI regulated entities.